“Embassy Life” has already managed to tell within the framework of a series of notes about those sights of Tajikistan that differ in their history, landscapes and special types of recreation. Today it is time to tell about the historical complex in Tajikistan – Hulbuk, which is located near the village of Kurban-Shaid of the Vosei district of the Khatlon region. The complex includes the Ruler’s Palace, the citadel and the surviving parts of the IX–XII century settlement.
Hulbuk was part of the Ghaznavid state and was part of the huge city of Hishttep in the center of the Huttal region. The modern Hulbuk occupies an area of about 70 hectares, of which most are occupied by modern buildings. Only a few fragments of their ancient history of the settlement have been preserved. After a long reconstruction, this archaeological complex was opened to all visitors in 2006. Today you can visit the historical museum-reserve “Hulbuk”, which occupies more than 16 hectares. Every year, several thousand tourists from all over the world come to enjoy the view of the citadel and the palace, wander among the ancient walls and buildings, as well as appreciate more than five thousand exhibits of the museum.
The citadel of ancient Hulbuk has a rectangular shape and is divided into two parts. The southern part has powerful protective walls with a height of about 15 m. Its area is only 50 * 50 m. The northern part of the citadel occupies a much larger area, but its walls are much lower than the southern ones (10 m). The total area of the citadel is 50*150 m. Inside the fortress is the Ruler’s Palace, which has been preserved in almost perfect condition.
The excavations in Hulbuk took place in three stages. The first one began in early 1953, when the walls of the palace and individual fragments of the walls that surrounded it were discovered. The continuation of the archaeological expedition began in March 1957. Within eight years, it was possible to discover almost the entire complex, to find countless artifacts and household items of that time. The final stage was completed just before the opening of the museum-reserve.
The results of the excavations allowed us to confidently say that the tradition of wall painting continued to exist in this territory even after the formation of Islam. Burnt bricks and raw bricks were used for the construction of the buildings of the settlement. Plaster and terracotta parquet were used for interior decoration. And its own water supply system in the settlement was able to fully provide its residents with clean water. The excavations made it possible to compile a complete picture of the life and various occupations of the ancient people of Hulbuka.
The electronic online publication “Embassy Life” expresses its gratitude To the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in the Russian Federation for the information and media files provided.
